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The JUAN DELA CRUZ "PALARIS" Revolt(1762-1765)
The struggle of the Filipinos for freedom is a continuous one. In war as in peace theyhave never wavered. An example of this struggle is the Palaris Revolt of 1762-1765 led by Juan de la Cruz Palaris of Binalatongan, now San Carlos City.The exact name of Juan de la Cruz Palaris is Pantaleon Perez. He was the son to TomasPerez, a cabeza de barangay. He was born in Barrio Coliling, San Carlos City,Pangasinan, in the year 1733, third in a family of five, with three brothers and one sister.The first two elder brothers died when they were yet small and the youngest brother livedto marry yet. While the sister next to him grew into a beautiful but manly woman whoused to kill a wild boar single handedly. She was finally killed in her own game, that is,she was killed and devoured by the wild boars.It was not known whether Pantaleon Perez was able to enter to school during his lifetime.The sources on this matter are silent, but he must have acquired some form of practicaleducation while he was in Manila because when he returned to San Carlos, he was held inhigh esteem and the people looked up to him as a cultured and refined man. In the wordsof Simon de Anda: "he onced served as a coachman of Auditor Don Francisco Enriquesde Villacorta." His dealing with his townsmen earned for him their confidence andrespect and, being a dynamic and restless man, he easily became their leader.History records him as Juan de la Cruz "Palaripar" then as "Palaris," but for conveniencehe was more popularly known as "Palaris." He was called "Palaripar" as he was thefastest runner and his legs appeared to be twirling like an auger and the ground furrowed.Immediate Causes of the RevoltThe immediate causes of the revolt were the failure of the government to satisfy the petition of the people demanding: (1) The return of the tributes that had been collected,(2) the removal of the schoolmaster and the church officials, (3) the removal of thealcalde-mayor of the province, Don Joaquin Gamboa, (4) permanence in office for thethen master-of-camp of the province, Andres Lopez, a native, and (5) a promise that they be exempted from the payment of the tributes if they go to Jolo to fight the Moros.The Revolt Proper The Spanish Force: the Battle of Bayambang (First Battle).Palaris was prepared to meet the Spanish force. He instructed his men to get ready not toallow the Spanish force from Manila to reach Pangasinan. In a flash, Palaris gave thecommand to mobilize, in spite of Governor Anda's last minute rally to gain their support.They advanced to Bayambang to intercept the enemy there. They built some trenches inthe western bank of the Bayambang River in a place called Manambong where they believed their enemies would pass through.
 
Some hours and perhaps a day or two, had already passed. The rebels were impatientwaiting for their enemies. Was the Spanish force coming? Two, and then three moreshots were heard. General Antonio of the rebel force went up a tall tree to find out.Verily, the Spanish force was coming. He blew his bugle and the rebels reported to their leader, Palaris. The latter instructed them to line up along the opposite west bank of theBayambang River and spread themselves.The Spanish force numbering 33 Spaniards and 400 natives headed by Francisco Arayatfrom Bacolor, finally arrived at the east bank of the river. As the river was impossible tocrossed, the Spanish leader detained his men for some time. Then he thought best to sendan embassy to the rebels so that they would submit."If Your Majesty Has Muskets, We Have Cannons."Palaris received the members of the embassy courteously, who accordingly told him of their plan. Immediately he replied (rather haughtily): "If your majesty has muskets, wehave cannons." Thereupon, the Spanish commander was compelled to make war on them,attacking them in the trenches which they built with five hundred men equipped withthirty-four muskets and some cannons besides their bows and arrows.The rebels hurled their banner to the breeze accompanied by a hot from a cannon of thecaliber of four, and two shots from falconets. Spanish Lieutenant Pedro Hernani, with onesergeant, one corporal, and twenty soldiers began to cross the river on their horses.The rest of the Spanish force was left as a reserve. Lieutenant Pedro Hernani was the firstto reach the other bank; but he was at once shot by General Domingo by an arrow which pierced his breast. Lieutenant Hernani, at once returned his deadly blow by a gunshotcrashing in at Domingo's temple, and they both died - the heroes of the occasion.The Rebel's FlagPedro Tagle succeeded Lieutenant Hernani. He shouted at his soldiers not to waver, andthe battle was on. It later developed into a hand to hand fight; and the rebels, lacking inmilitary training and equipment began to waver, and they broke. The Spanish forcecaptured their flag which they immediately brought to their commander-in-chief,Francisco Arayat.The rebel flag was two varas long and a trifle more narrow. At each corner was a two-headed eagle, and in the center an escutcheon with its border. Within it were the arms of the Order of St. Dominic. With the rebel flag in their possession, the Spanish forcedecided to return to Manila, thinking that the rebels were already gone for good never tooffer trouble again. Palaris saw them leaving, and desirous still to kill some soldiers of the Spanish army, he adroitly crossed the river and attacked them from behind. After killing many of them to his heart's satisfaction he dashed to the thick underbrush and thenescaped to join men. The Spanish commander forbore to attack them reiterating that hewould act mildly, and he continued his march to Manila.
 
Preparing For a Second BattleThe rebels mended their broken fences and reinforced their armaments and ammunitionat the west bank of the Bayambang River. For two months, in the early part of 1764, they prepared and waited for another battle. At last news was relayed to then that a formidableSpanish force under Manuel Arza which recently quelled the Silang Revolt in the Ilocosappeared in Mapatalan, San Fabian. It was headed for the rebels' headquarters. Palaris atonce sent a reconnoitering force of cavalrymen headed by General Victor Valdez. It was planned that this cavalry force should intercept the Spanish force at Mangaldan, whilePalaris, with the rest of his infantry should stay in the barrio of Pias, Sta. Barbara for some strategic reasons.The reconnoitering force of General Victor Valdez reached Mangaldan as planned. Butinstead of keeping a close watch on the approach of their enemies, they indulged inmerry-making, frolic, and fun. Wine flowed freely, and they drank themselves to sleep. Itwas about 2:00 o'clock in the morning when they woke up; and the Spanish force wasalready bombarding Palris' place at Pias, Sta. Barbara. The Spanish force was able toescape the vigilant watch of the reconnoiters proving that General Victor Valdez wasnegligent. There was nothing more to do than to mount their horses for the succor of their leader, Palaris. On their way they met a group of fleeing soldiers of the Spanish forcewho were evidently but by Palaris from the main body of the Spanish army. Victor Valdez' cavalrymen charged upon them and they fled in another direction. Theycontinued their way just the same, and at last they rejoined Palaris' beleaguered force.The battle dragged on unmercilessly, and the ground was already drenched in blood, anddead bodies could be counted by the hundreds. In the wake of the battle, neither forcewas the victor because there were but few fighting men left on both sides. Pias wasconverted into a veritable pool of blood. Whatever remained in the battlefield, either corpses or cannons, were ordered thrown into the Sta. Barbara Gorge by Palaris.Death of General AntonioVictor Valdez's cavalrymen presented themselves to Palaris after the battle, willing tosuffer the consequences of their gross military blunder at Mangaldan. Between Valdezand Palaris there was only an understanding of personal friendship; but this time thisfriendship was hanging on the balance. Palaris received them quietly but indifferently, hiseyes were burning with passion and anger. The soldiers remainly only passive and waitedfor their leader to "cool off." "Where is General Antonio?" was all that he could utter.Somebody informed him that he had been captured by the enemy, helplessly bound infetters. Surprised, and apprehensive of any untoward development against GeneralAntonio, Palaris immediately sent some of his men to rescue him.General Antonio was at this time being cross-questioned by the Spanish commandant,under ordeals for any clue leading to the capture of Palaris. His questions were rather  pressing and persistent, with a promise of freedom afterward. Would General Antonio tellthe name and native town of his leader? It would be plain cowardice and treason on his
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